Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-09
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from the French
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

BY OLIVE HARPER.
certainly, il you think it necessary, but
she is not very well this morning, having had
a nervous attack, and unless it is really
necessary
''Ahal" thought NJ. Lacroix; "she doesn't
want me TO see the little girl. Whyp
Mr.. Lacroix was on the point Of letting
this question pass for the time, when the child
stepped TO her mothers side from the other
room.
mo, mother" she said without being ques-
toned; II could not have heard anything;
slept all night without waking"
~ would like to question your servants,
said Lacroix, and Henriette rang. Victoria
entered.
-Bring the cook and coachman," said she
Sand return with them"
In another instant the three were there. IT Z
coachman and cook had rooms opening upon
the garden. They declared they had seen
nnd heard nothing. They had gone to bed al
10 and slept until morning. 1t was by report
that they had known OF the crime. Lacroix
made sign for them to retire, which they
gladly obeyed And rs Victoria was about
to follow them he called her back
Zone moment, my girl"
She stopped, u little confused. ~ am
going to ask you the same questions as those
addressed your comrades At what he ur
did you go to bedl"
why, why" stammered she, looking to-
ward Henriette SO earnestly that it was evident
that she was waiting for sign from her mis-
tres. III. Lacroix placed himself between
them without seeming to do so by design.
Answer, my girl, and do not fear to spoalf
the truth"
II went to bed very late later than usuGI.
MADAME must have told you"
"Why later yesterday than usualr'
ave were waiting for N. Laroque, who did
not return until after midnight Madame
and Miss Suzanne and waited for him until
nearly midnight
"You mean 10 o'clockfn
"No, midnight. Atll: 80 was in madames
room. She had rung for me to come and un-
dress Miss Suzanne
You are very sure OF the hourn
Certainly, sir, since l tell you sa"
Here was double contradiction which sur
prised the magistrate. Why had Nine La
rogue pretended that her husband had re-
turned few minutes after she had retired,
"
interest had she 10 prevaricatel
80 then at 1850 you were in madame's
room That hour comedies with that of the
crime. A pistol shot waS fired Did you
hear itln
Perfectly, and even observed so to
madame. But madame, who was on the
balcony, says she heard nothing"
And you did not go outf'
mo, sir.n
rs that all you have to say to meF'
"Yes, sir" she replied. hesitatingly. u do
not know anything more"
Lacroix noticed that she grew pale, and
thought she lied. "She knows something else
and will not tell it," Then, with a laughing
air, he turned again to Henriette, saying:
i understand your repugnancc TO tell me
the truth, and l do not blame you for not
wishing TO serve as witness at tho court of
asSizes, but the affair is grave and merits re-
aection"-
@Sir!n
"Do not say that you do not understand
me. No, my meaning is very clear to you,
and you have understood me perfectly well
You say that III ! say nothing justice will
not need my testimony and l viii escape
much annoyance by keeping SILENT That is
true end would be justfable II the question
was trihing one but this is a MURDER
Again sirn--
Permit me, madame; have not finished.
Up to the present moment you say you were
iIsleep at 10 o'clock Neither you nor your
Iittb girl had gone to bed until midnight
Il assure you, sir" said Heniiette, whose
heart seemed ready 10 burst
-Do not deny. Your maid says other
wise"
"Shs is mistaken
as IL not more likely you who are mis-
takeni" insinuated the magistrate. who
watched the visible emotion of Henrietta
with vigilant eye.
as it possible that after all ! did not notice
tho hour, and it may have been later than 1
thought"
as it true that Victoria called your atten.
ton to pistol shot near your Window
II do not remember it,"
"And you declare that you heard nothing.
although you were so late out on the
balronyp
Monsieur, permit me to remark" said
Henriette, who felt that she could bear no
more, that you question ME with as much
rightly as IL l were an accomplice of this
crime. There is just limit, which beg OF
you not to pass Your questions and your
insinuatious humiliate and fatigue me. III
you please, let this end"
al only search the light, madane.n said
Lacroix, with much gentleness, "and TO sur
round myself with nil the witnesses that
might form my conviction. As you wish,
madame, will Withdraw, particularly as /
have noticed for some moments that Won
were profoundly agitated."
With this he saluted her coldly, but
politely, and withdrew, leaving her prey TO
violent agitation. What to dol How hinder
ictorin from telling all she knewl How
much did she knowl Would all she pos
sessed buy her silencei Hardly knowing
what she did she rang for Victoria, but
learned that she had been ordered to 20
directly TO the magistrates office, where she
was now without doubt being examined by
M. Lacroix. Henriette passed over in her
mind all that had happened, and the more she
thought the greater grew her agony, for she
knew that her own denial, coupled with what
Victoria might say, would serve to bring down
the avalanche upon her shoulders She could
do nothing but sit in weary, dazed wny,
from which even the caresses OF her child
could not rouse her.
In thoIreantime tho magistrate by threats
aud promises obtained from Victoria the fact
that mother and child had been on the bal.
nony. that she had heard every word they
iad said as they spoke ~ some ono 10 her in.
visible, and who they believed 10 be Roger
Laroque; heard Suzanne say: GThere Is papa
Soing 70 see. the neighbour their apparent
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